The first study to examine diabetes, depression, and mortality suggests that older adults with diabetes and depression are half as likely to die over a five-year period if treated for depression compared with peers whose depression is not treated, according to an article in the December issue of Diabetes Care.

"Depression is common among people with diabetes and contributes to issues with medication and diet adherence, and also leads to an overall reduced quality of life," said lead author, Hillary R. Bogner, MD, MSCE, Assistant Professor, Department of Family Practice and Community Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

The multi-site, practice-randomized controlled trial was conducted in 20 primary care practices in New York City, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. A total of 584 participants 60 to 94 years of age were identified through a depression screening; of the total, 123 reported a history of diabetes.

The practices were randomly assigned to usual care or depression care management intervention, which involved a depression care manager who worked with the primary care provider to recommend treatment for depression and assist patients with treatment adherence.

At follow-up, 110 depressed patients had died. Depressed, older adults with diabetes who were in practices randomized to depression care management were less likely to have died at the end of the five-year follow-up than were depressed, older adults with diabetes who received usual care.